In New York City, migrant women often sell candy bars, gum, and fruits on subway platforms to support their families. One woman named Lorena, who arrived from Ecuador with her husband and young daughter, sells fruit while carrying her child on her back, earning about $50 a day. Food vending without a license can result in fines, but many migrants do it out of necessity as they wait for legal authorization to work. Lorena’s family went through a harrowing journey to the U.S., facing dangers such as thieves and dangerous jungles. The family persevered to provide a better life for their daughter, with Lorena hiding money in her child’s diapers to keep it safe.
Many migrant families with children in New York City are staying in shelters, and a program called Promise NYC provides free child care to migrant children through subsidy payments to child care centers. This program aims to provide support to families who do not qualify for other child care programs due to their immigration status.
A survey found that 84% of migrant vendors sell goods out of necessity due to lack of child care. Since the launch of Promise NYC, city funding has grown to $25 million, enough to care for a thousand children next year. The challenge is ensuring that families like Lorena’s are aware of the program. After speaking with NBC News and Algun Dia, Lorena was able to find a place for her daughter at a nearby day care center, providing her with the support she needs to pursue a better life in the U.S.
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